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Custom made patterns

Let us create a unique cross stitch pattern for you! We will turn any picture into a cross stitch pattern with the same high quality and super-fine details found in all our patterns!

Any type of picture will do! Photos, drawings, pictures from the Internet etc.

You can send us the picture using snail-mail or e-mail.

We will create a pattern from the picture any way you like and/or we can make several suggestions for you to chose from.

The pattern will be delivered using fast e-mail or in printed format using snail mail.

What we can do

We will use the same technique when creating your pattern as we do when creating our stock patterns. That includes color reduction, usage of blended colors etc. You can read more about the techniques here if you like.

The image can be altered anyway you like before we make it into a pattern.

We can retouch the picture and/or only use a selection from the photo and also add special effects.

Text can be added to the design. The letters in the text are made up of ordinary cross stitches just like the rest of the pattern (...and never any fractional or backstitches).

Custom Pattern Ideas

Give away the pattern as a gift...
...or give away the finished stitched masterpiece as a gift...
...or frame it and put it on the wall as your own, unique Masterpiece...

How does it all work

These are the typical steps when we create a Custom pattern:

You send us a picture.

If you want you can select: Size of the finished pattern, maximum number of DMC colors that should be used, any retouching/cropping of the picture we should do, special effects to add and any text to add. Or you can leave that to us and we will give you a suggestion.

We send you a picture of a suggested pattern including information of sizes and color usage etc. and the total cost.

If you want to change anything, we send you a new suggestion etc.

When you are satisfied with the result you pay us via our ordinary channels.

You receive the finished pattern.

We will of course return any photo free of charge even if you decide not to go ahead with the order.

Options

1. Stitch count
Select the stitch count of the pattern that we should create. The larger the stitch count, the more detailed result. The stitch count also establishes the base price of the pattern.Maximum stitch count (width or height, whichever is larger)
100 US$94.99
200 US$99.99
300 US$109.99
400 US$114.99
500 US$124.99
700 US$134.99
900 US$154.99

2. Color count
Select the maximum number of colors in the pattern. The larger the count the more detailed result. However there is always a maximum number that depends on the complexity of the picture which means that we will always try to keep the color count as low as possible without quality loss. Maximum number of colors
Additional cost
30 US$0
60 US$25
100 US$35
140 US$40

3. Retouching
The picture can be retouched any way you like before the pattern is created. Backgrounds can be erased, picture can be made brighter, contrast changed, red-eye compensation etc. We can even combine two or more photos or part of photos into one pattern... Retouching
Additional cost. *these may be combined
Erase background etc. US$60
Combine several pictures US$75

4. Effects
Effects can be added. Here we can do almost anything you like with the picture before turning it into a pattern. For instance: Sepia colorization, black and white (with shades of gray), fade effects, artistic effects such as Dry Brush, Palette Knife, Pencil and so on. Effect
Additional cost. *these may be combined
Sepia, b/w etc. US$25
Artistic effects US$35

5. Text
Any text can be inserted into the pattern. There are many, many type faces to chose from and we can make suggestions for you to chose from. A shadow can be added behind the text to make it look like it is "floating" or it can be "carved" into the picture etc... Text
Additional cost.
Simple US$25
Shadowed, carved etc. US$35

6. Photo
Send the photo/drawing etc. to us using e-mail or snail mail. The snail mail photo will be manually scanned for you and of course returned. Photo
Additional cost.
Via email US$0
Via snail mail US$30

Ordering

Use our Ticket System and open a new ticket to place a Custom order.
Select 'Custom Order' as ticket Topic and let us know about any requests you might have. If you are unsure about the options above, just leave it to us and we will make sure you will be satisfied with the result. We have made hundreds of Custom patterns during the years!

We will then get back to you with further instructions on how to send us the photo and any other information you would like to have.

Remember - you will not pay us anything until you are fully satisfied with the result!

Hello Mary, and welcome to GK! I have never ordered a custom chart so I'm not sure about that. It probably depends on just how busy Marcus is. I have ordered a pre-release on a couple of occasions - once took only about a week and the other was a couple of weeks. I imagine that others who have ordered them can give you more information. We'd love to have you join our SAL's!

Well, actually this is Chester, Mary's husband. What is a SAL?? Also, Mary has a picture of our daughter when she was small that she keeps talking about having made into a pattern so she can cross stitch. She loves GK patterns and the detail that they have in them, as well as the size, count, colors. I am considering getting this done for her for Christmas, as she enjoys stitching and would love to have this pattern.

Oh Chester, what a lovely Christmas gift that would make! SAL is stitch-along. We have them twice a month for GK projects, the second and fourth Friday - Monday of the month. On the alternate weeks we have SAL's for non-GK projects. We take a before photo of our work, stitch as much (or as little) as we are able with people from all over the world, and then take an after photo. We post both photos so everyone can follow each other's progress, and it is great fun. All of the SAL's are announced the day before they start, just in case people forget that they will be taking place. We would love to have her join us! Has she done any GK's yet?

Welcome!!! Sometimes it does take Marcus a bit to reply but he will so just hang in there. This sounds like a beautiful pattern you are having done for Mary! As Wendy has said, everyone is very welcome to join in our SAL!

Oh yes, please! We all love watching pictures grow, and this one will be so unique. Do you think she will start it right after Christmas, or does she have a number of others that she will be finishing first? (You can tell that I'm getting excited already!)